Quantity controlled automatic poultry water trough



Dec. 20, 1955 J. D. HATCHER QUANTITY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC POULTRY WATER TROUGH 2 7 4 4 4 .J 2 w 6 1 3 0/ O; g 2 W :9 Ti #0 I s; 6 a infr w if: m u u.\. m l a} n F .m .Ft. .t 1 hi i? ,k I a I T! a 5; W 8 F T: 2 5

INVENTOR JAMES 5; HA TCHER BY 4&1? m

AT ORNEYS United States Pateiiit ()fi 2,727,492 Patented Dec.

ice

QUANTITY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC. POULTRY WATER TROUGH James D. Hatchet, Campbell, Calif. Application May 31, 1952, Serial No. 291,017 3 Claims. (Cl. 119-81) water, and yet the same fountain is adaptable for use by chickens or other poultry of any size. Also, the autoreliable, tions in position of other portions of the fountain. Furhas exceptional structural rigidity to withstand the pressure of poultry thereon and to provide long life, and in addition the fountain is adapted for use as a barrier or partition in such as a brooder house While at the same time providing all of the above features and advantages to both sides of the area so divided.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic fountain for' poultry or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic fountain adjustable to water poultry of all sizes while completely protecting the water from the entry of foreign matter or of poultry.

It is still another object of the present invention to pro vide an improved automatic fountain having a permanently secured water valve, adjustable access opening, adjustable height, rigid construction, and complete inaccessibility of one side to the other.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of with the foregoing, will be set companying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, hOwever,-that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted the invention is illustrated in the drawing by various figures as follows:

Figure 1, showing the automatic fountain in longitudinal cross section with the center portion removed for sealing purposes.

Figure 2, showing the fountain in end elevation.

Figure 3, showing a cross sectional view Of Figure 1 at 3-3 thereof.

0 standards 11 and 12 which are Figure 4, showing a partial cross sectional view of Figure 2 at 44 thereof. I

Figure 5, showing an enlarged sectional view of the trough end suspension but indicating the clip in its hood releasing position; and

Figure 6, showing a cross sectional view drawn to a reduced scale of Figure l at 66 thereof.

Considering now the invention in some detail and referring to the drawing, there is provided a pair of upright each secured to individual feet or bases 13 and 14 respectively as by threaded engagement therewith. Supported between standards 11 and 12 is a hood 1 which in section has the shape of section with a right angle bend at the bottom to present an L configuration in end view. In addition, there is attached to support plates 17 and 1%, guide plates 21 and 22 which are secured to the vertical portion of plates 17 support plates 17 and 18 are provided with tures of a diameter slightly greater than that 11 and 12, and in assembly standards 11 and 12 are dis- From the above it will be seen that hood 16 is mounted by support plates 17 and 18 between standards 11 and 12 for vertical motion along the standards by the slidable engagement of standards 11 and 312 with guide plates 21 and 22 and the horizontal extensions of plates 17 and 18. In order to maintain hood 16 at any desired height on standards 11 and 12 there are provided a pair of identical clips 23 and 24, of which clip 23 operates and clip 24 on standard 12.

and 12 respectively and held by engagement with the slots in support plates 17 and 18, pivot and bear support plate along standard 11. plate 17 is clip 23 and 17 together, which although further compressing spring 26, moves the aperture on clip 23 into alignment with standard 11 and prevents bending so that free motion of support plate 17 along standard 11 is allowed.

In addition to the above mentioned elements there are provided various other operative members of the 3 fountain including a trough..27lhaving a'v sha'ped cross section and disposed immediately below hood16. Que end of trough 27 consists of an angle plate 28 having a right angle bend therein and connection may be made between end 28 and the sides of-trough :2-7 by afolding the corners of one portion of end 28-at=righLangles thermo to:form a V into which the sidesoftrough 27 efiteand are secured as by soldering, as shownin 3. A pair of horizontal slots are provideddnthewe'rtical portion of support plate -17, preferably :some 'distance-apart such as one and one-half inches, and the horizontal or bent portion of trough end 28 is :adapted for disposition in one or the otherof theses'lots. :The

horizontal portion of trough end 28 may:have;ria:reduced.

width for easy insertion in the slots of supportpla-te 17, as shown in Figure 3, and movement ofiend2'18 from-one slot to another in support plate 17 changesrthe 'distance between hood 16 and trough 27 It has been determined that to afford one day old chicks proper access to the trough, the spacing be approximately two inches. the trough is in its uppermost position relativetothe hood, and thus when the trough is placed in its'lo'wen most position relative to the hood, the spacing willl have become increased to approximately three and'one-half inches. To accommodate baby chicks one .day 'old, the top of the trough should be about two inches .above the ground, and as will be understoodas therchieks-zor chickens grow older the trough and the hoodimay be raised to any height desired.

At the opposite end of trough 27 from-end 28 there is provided a second trough end 29 which may beisecured to the sides of trough 27 in thesame mannertas end-128 and which extends vertically upward fromitrough :27. Trough end 29 is provided with a pair of apertures2therein above the sides of trough 27 and separatedlthersame distance as the apertures in supportfplaterfl whichsare engaged by trough end 28. Trough .27 is' -supporte'd#at end 29 by a lever arm 31 of a-valve'32, which-aincludes an elongated cylindrical body extending :throughhood 16 and rigidly attached thereto as by a bracketl33 h'e'ld in place by any suitable means such.asxscrews or bolts. Attached to the top of valve 32 is a water hose 34' for supplying water to trough 27 through valve 32 and secured thereto in fluid tight relation hose clamp 36. Valve lever arm 31 is pivotally-mounted upon the valve body and engages a valve stem internal thereto for controlling the valve opening. Lever arm 31 also engages trough end 29 by engagement-with oneof the apertures therethrough be formed in lever arm 31 for positive latching ofaarm 31 to trough end 29, as shown. A tension spring' 37- is mounted upon bracket 33on 16 and is connected at its opposite end to lever arrn 3l intermediate the pivotal mounting'thereof and the eugagement of lever arm 31*with' troughend 29 to urge lever arm 31 and attached trough 27 upwards. Valve 32 preferably comprises a open only over an intermediate range of-positions bf lever arm 31 and which closes upon a large displacement of lever arm 31 in either direction. Thus "with-a proper choice of the size of suspension spring"37,-or by-"adjustment of the tension thereof, the weightof troughf27' and a full supply of water therein will pull lever 'arnf'SI down to close valve 32 and prevent into trough 27. With a decrease in the amount-of-water in trough 27 over a predetermined amount the- -'tension of spring 37 will overcome the trough*-weigh t=and"will raise lever arm 31 to an intermediate position where n valve 32 is open to pass water into troughf27. This action thus automatically regulates the amount of 'water in trough 27. The removal of all waterfront. trough 27, as for cleaning of the trough, "allows spring '37" *to move lever arm 31 to its maximum upwarddisplacement, thus automatically shutting err valve 32fto pre- Figures 1 rand between the trough and head should.v This is the spacing when.

by means E suchiasand a number ofnotches may the under side of hood;

double acting valve Whi'chisto bend owingtoits'leng'th and prevents vent' undesired water "flow. In this connection there may be further-provided a valve.hand1e 38,.pivotallvengaging lever arm 31 and extending upward therefrom at an angle through an opening in hood 16. Valve handle 37 has a shoulder thereon for engagement with the under surface of hood 16 when handle 38 is moved toward a vertical position and this shoulder is displaced from lever arm 31 so that engagement ofthieshoulder on handle 38 may only betmadevwhen lever arm..31.is'. in an intermediate position. 'Bytfthisrmeansihandle ,-'38;provides-a convenient manual valve control for filling trough 27, as after cleaning or installatiom 'forthedepression of handle 38 causes lever arm. 31 to open valve 32. .Engagement of the shoulder of handle'38, with hood 16 may thenbe made by pivoting handie -38 and valve 31is thus held open until the weight of trough 27 pulls lever arm 31 down further than it is held by handle 38 whereupon handle 38 falls further out of vertical so that the shoulder thereof is mo longer in: position-*to engage hood 16.

ln orderto 'lim'it the latitudinal' area of trough 27 available 'to chickens-'or the like 1 andfurther to positively separatethe 'fountaininto two mutually inaccessible portions 'there =is zprovided a center line baflie 39 which may takeithe-iform of a -long sheet or plate of metal or the like disposed along the center lineofhood 16 and depending therefrom. 'Baffle 39--is-secured to the inner surface of hood 16 -at the-apex thereof as by providing a 'bent -e'dge uponbaffie'39' which rests against a part of oneaside-of hood 16 internal thereto, as shown in Figure 3,--and is=joined" thereto as bywelding. Baffle 39 extends-downwardly from hood almost to the top of trough 27 andexteridsfromend28 of trough 27' to the vicinity ofwalve "-32 hich effectively divides the remainder-ofrthe length of the fountainintoseparate parts.

Inasmuch ash is contemplated that the platelike elements of the' fountain willbe formed ofrelatively light materialssuch'as'sheetmetal or'the like and in view of the -advisabiliy of' making the fountain of considerable length to accommodatea large number'of fowl, a problenr or: structural rigidity arises. In thepresent invention this=prohlem-is completelyanswered by the provision of one -or moresupport members41; the actual number employedbeing determined by-the length of the fountain. Supportmember 41 includes a strap 42- of relatively small width-extending laterally across trough, 27 and having theends*thereof'turnedunder-at the angle of the sides oftrough 27"to grip same on the outside thereof. Strap 42 is rigidly secure'd totrough. 27 asby welding of the ends of'strap 42 to the sides of trough'27.

Extending *ver'tically upward from strap 42 and laterally of trough 27 and hood 16 is a flange 43 which may havesomewhatbf an'inverted Vishape, as shown in Figure- 6. "Flange"43hasa'central slot therein extending from" the top thereof downward to accommodate bathe plate .39 in 'slidable'relation. The dimensions of flange 43--and the 'slot' therein is determined bythe distance between 'trough 27* and hood 16 in' the extreme sitions thereof as baffle 39' preferably totally engages the slot inflange 43 whenhood" 16 and trough 27 are positioned closest togetherand also in this position flange 43 should 'extend substantiallyto hood 16-so that it will engage asubstantiarportion of baffle39 when trough 27 and hood 16'areat maximum" separation. Support member 41-while in'cludinga number of elements may be made in a singlepiece'of" metal by simple sheet metal techniques and 'is so 'shown'on' the drawing. i It willbe appreciated that;supporomembertrnoti only improves the rigidity of trough27-butalso counteracts; the tendency of bafl1e'39 distortion of baffle 39 by poultry 'sothat the 'ba-rrier'action thereof is at all times effective.

The 'operation'of'the'inventionhas been set out above in connection with the descriptionof the individual elelows-abrief description of overall operation including a relative poredefinition of the various adjustments and their interrelation. Commencing with small poultry, such as baby chicks, the fountain is disposed at its lowest vertical level by setting support plates 17 and 18 substantially upon bases 13 and 14 at the bottom of standards 11 and 12. Trough 27 is placed in its upper position relative to hood 16 by inserting trough end 28 in the upper slot of support plate 17 and valve lever arm 31 in the lower aperture of trough end 29, this position being illustrated in Figis filled with Water to a predetermined water (not shown) attached to hose 34 and this tion may be accomplished with valve handle 38, as set out above. With trough 27 filled valve 32 is closed and the fountain is available for use while acting as a complete barrier between opposite sides thereof and further protecting the water from contamination and the poultry from immersion. In operation valve 32 operates, through lever arm 31 suspending trough 27, to continuously maintain a predetermined Water level in trough 27 in accordance with the weight of trough 27 and contained water. As the chickens grow the entire hood and trough assembly may be raised so as to afford the most accessible position of the water for the poultry. This adjustment is accomplished by compressing springs 25 and 26 between clips 23 and 24 and the horizontal portions of support plates 17 and 18. This allows the fountain to move freely up and down standards 11 and 12 with guide plates 21 and 22 preventing tipping of the fountain during movement contact with standards 11 and 12 to maintain the founrain at any desired height, and the mounting of valve 32 upon fountain hood 16 removes the necessity readjusting or realigning valve 32 with movement of the fountain. As the chickens reach some larger size the relative disposition of hood 16 and trough 27 may be varied to provide greater room for the chickens to drink from trough 27 and this is accomplished by moving the horizontal portion of trough end 28 from the upper to the lower aperture of support plate 17 and moving valve lever arm 31 from the top to the bottom aperture of trough end 29. This adjustment does not affect the preset adjustment of valve 32 so that no manual control thereof is required. It will be appreciated in connection with the relative displacement of trough 27 and hood 16 that any number of slots may be formed in support plate 17 and apertures in trough end 29 to provide any desired spacing; there being illustrated two positions merely as an example.

The present invention will be seen from the foregoing to clearly accomplish the above enumerated objects and to possess numerous advantages including those specifically set forth. Inasmuch as the invention has been described only with respect to a single preferred embodiment no limitation is intended thereby but instead reference is made to the following claims for a complete definition of the invention.

I claim:

I. An improved automatic fountain comprising a pair of vertical standards, a hood disposed intermediate said standards, a pair of support plates connected one to each end of said hood and slidably engaging said standards, locking means engaging said standards and said support plates whereby said hood is vertically adjustable, a trough pivotally engaging one of said support plates and at selected vertical positions thereon below said hood, and a valve mounted upon said hood and directed into said trough, said valve having a control member spring mounted to said hood and engaging the free end of said trough whereby the operation of said valve is controlled by the amount of water in said trough.

2. An improved automatic fountain as claimed in claim 1 further defined by the pivotal mounting of said trough and the engagement of said trough and said valve control member being adjustable to vary the displacement of said trough from said hood.

3. An improved automatic fountain comprising a pair of vertical standards, a pair of support plates each slidably engaging one of said port plates in compression to lock said support plates upon said standards at variable positions, a hood extending between said standards and secured at either end to one of said support plates, a valve having a lever arm and secured to said hood to discharge downwardly, a suspension spring connected between said hood and said valve lever arm, and a trough having one end extended and multiply apertured for adjustable engagement with said valve lever arm and the other end extended to pivotally engage at adjustable points one of said support plates whereby the vertical position of said trough and hood is adjustable and the relative disposition of said trough and hood is adjustable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

